Suspension for cabinet ironers



Feb. 27, 1951 2,543,485

A. L. BRIGGS SUSPENSION FOR CABINET IRONERS Filed Nov. 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 27, 1951 A. BRIGGS SUSPENSION FOR CABINET IRONERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1946 FI -E FI -E Fla-B W fl Allan L. BT13 s Site: an

Feb. 27, 1951 A. L. BRIGGS 2,543,485

SUSPENSION FOR CABINET IRONERS Filed Nov. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented F eb. 27, 1951 SUSPENSION FOR CABINET IRONERS Allan L. Briggs, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Jamestown Metal Equipment Company, Inc., Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 14, 1946, Serial No. 709,672

This invention relates to a cabinet type ironing machine and more particularly to means for supporting an ironer in such a manner as to render it movable into position of rest within the cabinet, or position of use adjacent thereto.

One of the more important objects and advantages of the invention lies in the provision of an ironer cabinet having a permanent, fixed top that may serve as a conventional shelf or table at any time, whether or not the ironer is stored Within the cabinet, or withdrawn therefrom for use.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a cabinet having a front opening through which an ironer is moved either into position of storage or use.

Another important object of the invention lies in the provision of a cabinet having an ironer supporting mechanism that is capable of sustaining an ironer in an exterior proximate position with respect to the cabinet, or an interior storage position.

It is also an important object of the inven tion to provide a mechanism that, in all positions of an ironer, the Weight thereof will be substantially counterbalanced in order that an operator need exert little or no force in moving the ironer from one to another of its extreme positions.

It is further considered to be an important object and advantage of the invention to provide an ironer carrying mechanism that will locate an ironer in position of use directly in front of the cabinet opening, and at such height that the top of the cabinet may serve as a convenient place of at least temporary storage for ironed articles.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an ironer carrying mechanism that is capable of storing the ironer in an inclined endwise position, thereby facilitating use of a comparatively shallow and narrow storage cabinet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an ironer cabinet in which is embodied one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the cabinet, a substantial portion of the side wall being broken away to disclose the position of the ironer and its supporting mechanism when the. ironer is in 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-27) position of storage, this view being taken substantially as suggested by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the position of certain of the movable parts of the ironer supporting mechanism when the ironer has been partially withdrawn from the cabinet, being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the ironer supporting mechanism fully extended and the ironer withdrawn from the cabinet into operative position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the latching mechanism, being taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a part of the ironer support, being taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a further detail of the ironer supporting mechanism, being taken substantially on the line 'I1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a part of the pivotal connection of the mechanism with the ironer base, being taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the ironer supporting structure, when the parts thereof are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the view being taken substantially as indicated on the line 99 of this figure;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional view of the ironer support latch mechanism, being taken substantially on the line Ill-l 0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a part of the supporting mechanism, the parts being shown in full line as in Fig. 2, and in phantom with the ironer in the position shown in F 4;

Fig. 12 is a detail of the counterbalance, being taken substantially on the line l2-l2of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of a part of the linkage of the ironer support, being taken substantially on the line 13-!3 of Fig. 11; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are enlarged fragmentary details taken substantially on the lines 14 and I5 of Fig. 11.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral I0 is employed to generally designate a cabinet in which one modification of an ironer suspension embodying the invention is provided. The cabinet includes a base H which may be of somewhat less depth than the cabinet proper to provide toe space I2. this space enabling convenient use of the cabinet as a conventional shelf when the ironer has been moved into a position of storage within the cabinet. Mounted on the base H is the cabinet proper which includes a rear wall l3 and side walls l4. At its front, marginal panels l6 define an opening adapted to be closed by a horizontally swinging door H. A top I8 is permanently joined .to the side and rear walls in any suitable manner. The side and rear walls of the cabinet are of a height to locate the top l8 at the conventional table or kitchen shelf height and, consequently, the top of the cabinet may at all times be used as a shelf, regardless of whether the ironer is in position of use or storage.

One type of ironer adapted'to be mounted'in the cabinet is generally indicated by the reference numeral i9, and includes a base 2| that is permanently secured in any suitable manner to a shelf 22. This shelf, both for appearance and strength, is formed with depending marginal flanges 23. It will be noted, however, that towards-therear, the sides of the shelf are. recessed as indicated at 24. Substantially midway of the sideflanges of the shelf, the lower ends of a pair of suspension arms 2% are attached. This attachment takes the form of a pivotal structure of the type shown in Fig. 8,whereina bolt 21 projects through the armlfi-and flange 23 and is secured against-displacement by anut 28. jacent the rear of the sides of the-shelf, and attachedto thefianges 2.3 in .the recesses -24,-are further suspension-arms 29. The structure by which these arms are attached to the shelf may be identical with that shown in Fig. 8. :It is to be observed that, ,since the arms were set into the recesses 2Q, ,theyare offset inwardly of the path of travel of the arms 26 and, thus, during movement of the ironer from one position to another, these arms mayassumean overlapping or overlying position such, for example, as .suggestedin Fig. 4.

.Adj-acent thetop of the cabinet .are supporting rails 3|. These rails, asmay be seenin Fig. 9,

extend from the rear wall l3to the panels l6,

and are spaced from their respective side walls1|4 substantially the width of the panels l6. Near the forward endof the vertical fiange..32, each rail is formed with a horizontally extending slot 33, the forward end of which is formed witha notchrfi l. Suitablebracketstfi are attached'to the rear wall t3 somewhat beneath, but n the same verticalplane with rails 3 I. These brackets serve to mount corresponding ends of a,pair of inclinedrails .31. The rails. It? eachinclude horizontal and vertical. flanges 38 and'39. The forward ends of fiangesei ll are permanently joined to thevertical-flanges 32 of therails 3| at substantially the point suggested in the drawing.

The .upper ends of suspension arms 26 are mounted on a red 4! which extends between and is carried by rails 3|. Suitable collars 42 serve to locate the ends of .thesearms inspacedrelationship to the inclined rails 3? (see Fig. 6). The

upper ends of arms 29 are mounted on a further tain operation of the device, suitable collars 44 are mounted on rod 43 to predetermine the plane of movement or arms 29 with respect to the shelf 22 and arms 26.

Corresponding ends of links 46 are attached to the suspension arms 26, adjacent their pivotal connection with rod 4!. The other ends of these links mount pins l! which project into the slots 33 andaremovable therealong. From the drawing it is evident that the swinging movement of arms 26 about their pivotal connection with rod 4| is limited to the extent of movement of pins 4'! in slots 33. Further links 48 are pivotally joined at corresponding ends with arms 26, the

location of these links being substantially as indicated in the drawing. The other end of each link 48 pivotally connects with one end of a short arm 49. The other end of each arm 49 is pivotally joined, as at 5|, to the vertical flange 39 of the inclined rail 31 (see Figs. 3, 12 and 14) Adjacent the pivotal connection 5|, each arm 49 pivotally mounts corresponding ends of a pair of links 52 and 52a. The other ends of these links arejoined to a pin53 which extends through a slot'fifl in the flange 39 of rail 31 and mounts a cap 56 through which an eye-bolt 51 projects. The threaded end of this bolt receives a nut 58, whereas the eye of the bolt is engaged with one end .59 of an expansion spring 6|. The other end 62 of this spring is attached to a fixedpin63, carried by flange 39 of rail 31.

To secure the ironer IS in its position of use, the structure shown in Figs. 9.and 10.is provided. A'bar '64 extends across the'front of the cabinet and projects, through and beyond the vertical flanges 32 of rails 3|. Attached at approximately the barfs ends are straps 68. The free end of each strap is curved, as at 81, and is adapted to contact pin 41 in its forward position when bar E i is rotated. On the front panel |6,'adjacent the'free-"edge of the door ll, is a bracket 68 that serves to mount a release knob 69. A suitable spring 1 5, located in a housing 2,'normally urges the knob-into the position shown in Fig. 10. An end '73 of the knob, projecting beyond the housing 12, is adapted to contact a strap M which is alsoattached to bar 84 (see Fig. 9). When the ironer has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, the shanks of pins 41 drop into notches 34 of slots 33. The ends of these pins, in this position, lie against the ends 81 of the latch straps 66. Of course,-the weight of the ironer, as applied through links '46, preventsinadvertent displacement-of pins $1 from their position in notches 34. When it is desired. to return the ironer to its place of storage, the releaseknob 59 is depressed and the end 13 thereof swings-strap 14, therebyrotating bar 64 and causing straps 6 to lift pins 4'! out of the notches 34.

To more fully appreciate the structure of the invention, a complete operating cycleis setout astfollows: When it is desired to withdraw the ironer |9 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig.4, thedoor I1 is swung open at least to the positionshown. A handle 16, attached to the frontflangelS of the shelf 22, provides a convcnient means for withdrawing the ironer. When the operator pulls outwardly on the bandle,.the ironer swings forwardly and upwardly, traveling through a path defined by the length, angularity, and position of attachment therewith of suspension arms 26 and 29. Withdrawal of the'ironer from a lowerto an upper position requires little effort on thepart of :the operator inasmuch as the springs-6|, in their effort to contract from an expanded position, supply a considerable part of the force needed to swing the ironer from the position of Fig. 2 almost into the fully extended, elevated position of Fig. 4. As the ironer moves beyond the position of Fig. 3, less effort is required to continue its movement into fully extended position inasmuch as the travel becomes increasingly less upwardly and more outwardly. Thus, as the energy of the springs 6| decreases, the need of such energy also decreases until the point is reached where the springs iii are fully collapsed and the ironer is in fully extended operative position. As the ironer moves into its fully extended position, pins 4! move into notches 34 and thus prevent the ironer from returning to some intermediate suspended position wherein the springs are sufficiently extended to counterbalance its weight.

Control of the springs 6|, as may be observed from the drawing, is provided through the connection of links 52, 52a with the arms 49 and links 48. Through the use of such linkage it is possible to provide springs having sufiicient strength to sustain the weight of the ironer even though the expandin travel of these springs is short by comparison with the travel of the ironer suspension arms. By reason of the use of the spring mount shown, it is possible to adjust the spring tension through rotation of nuts 58 to an extent to meet any requirements of the operator. In other words, should it be desired that substantially all effort of moving the ironer into position of use be accomplished through the contracting action of springs 6!, nuts 58 may be turned down on the eye-bolts, when the ironer is in extended position, to slightly expand the coils of the springs. Thus, when the ironer is returned to its position within the cabinet, these springs will have greater expansion and, consequently, more fully, if not entirely, sustain the weight of the ironer as it moves into the cabinet. It will be particularly noted that by reason of the present type of suspension it is possible to house an ironer within a cabinet of comparatively shallow depth. cabinet depth is intended to be substantially the depth of standard shelves, cupboards, etc., in order that the front thereof will be in the same vertical plane with other standard kitchen or laundry units. is the same as conventional kitchen or laundry shelves, the fixed top may readily form a shelf continuation with the tops of other units or permanently installed shelves or cupboards. Inasmuch as the length of the average ironer is greater than the depth of the cabinet shown in the present disclosure, the suspension has been so devised as to tilt the ironer sufficiently to accommodate it within the depth limits of the cabinet. Although the height of the cabinet might be found to be sufiicient to accommodate the ironer in an up-ended position, such a storage arrangement places a burden on the operator in moving the ironer to and from its position of storage to an extent far beyond that required by an operator in manipulating an ironer suspended in the manner of the present invention.

In the present disclosure the Since the height of the cabinet Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of a suspension for a cabinet type ironer, it will be understood that modification of certain of the structural details may be made and is contemplated insofar as such modification is within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A structure of the class described comprising an open front cabinet, a shelf adapted to mount an operative mechanism, said cabinet being of considerably less depth than the overall length of said shelf and said mechanism, arms pivotally connecting the base of said shelf with certain of the interior walls of said cabinet, said arms being adapted to guide said shelf into and out of said cabinet through said open front, said arms having connection with the base of said shelf at such points as to tilt said shelf into an inclined endwise position when in position of storage in said cabinet and means connected with and operable by movement of said arms, said means serving to control the extent of pivotal movement of said arms and determine the storage and use positions of said shelf.

2. A structure of the class described comprising an open front cabinet, a shelf adapted to mount an ironing mechanism, an all purpose suspension for said shelf and mechanism comprising pairs of arms pivotally joined at corresponding ends to said shelf, a pair of rails mounted in and extending substantially from front to rear of said cabinet, the other ends of said arms being pivotally joined to said rails, means for determining the storage and use positions of said shelf operatively joined to said arms, said means including structure adapted to latch said arms in a position to render the mechanism carried by said shelf available for use, operator actuable means for releasing said latching structure, and counterbalance means associated with said arms in a manner to become increasingly effective to sustain the swingable weight of said shelf and said mechanism when said arms effect movement from a position of use to that of storage within said cabinet.

ALLAN L. BRIGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 612,987 Cary Oct. 25, 1898 727,126 Gramelspacher May 5, 1903 883,305 Fetch Mar. 31, 1908 1,491,781 Axen Apr. 29, 1924 1,824,822 Kradolfer Sept. 29, 1931 2,202,167 Peters May 28, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 289,882 Germany July 10, 1915 

